How can the financial sector contribute, or even speed up, businesses’ transition to long-term value creation within a sustainable economy? If it means combining financial, social and environmental values, what pathways and challenges are there for sustainable investing and lending?

Learning goals

After this programme, you can add these strengths to your knowledge and skillset.

  • Utilise finance to increase businesses’ contribution to a sustainable economy.  
  • An understanding of how the global economy is transitioning to sustainability.  
  • Assist companies and financial institutions adapt to a more sustainable economic model.  
  • Stay up-to-date with the newest approaches in sustainable investing and lending.  
  • Engage with companies and set up an active dialogue.  
  • Have practical tools to implement sustainable investing and lending in your organisation.  
  • Your own international network of academics and practitioners.  
Erasmus University Rotterdam campus building.

Partners in sustainable finance

RSM Executive Education’s Sustainable Finance programme is offered in partnership with the Erasmus Platform for Sustainable Value Creation. The platform is committed to developing new insights in sustainable development through research and education, and works in close collaboration with leading sustainable finance players in the industry and academia

For whom

Explore if this course is for you

Your roles

  • Senior and middle financial manager
  • Banker
  • Asset manager
  • Sustainability manager

Your challenges

  • Managing financial assets and increasing sustainable pressures
  • Formulating a long-term value creation strategy within a sustainable economy

Read what previous participants say about this programme

Jasper Timmermans

Co-ordinating policy advisor at Ministry of Finance in the Netherlands

There are interesting lecturers and guest lecturers, and the programme is full of insights. It is a small-scale set-up in which interaction between speakers and students is very much encouraged, and the topic is explained well from several angles. I have been involved with this topic for a little while already, but the programme provided me with more in-depth knowledge about sustainable finance, and gave me more insights into the issues that professionals in the financial sector encounter in practice. I learned what is already happening in the sector, and what additional actions governments can take to influence activities in the sector.

Eloy Lindeijer

Chief Investment Officer at PGGM

The investment decisions of today shape our future. We have a choice. Do we maximise short-term returns, or create long-term sustainable value? It is becoming increasingly clear that society is reaching ecological and social boundaries, and that we can only prosper if we respect these boundaries. Erasmus University’s Sustainable Finance programme provides investors and financiers with the tools to make the right decisions, now and in the future.

Interested in a programme for your entire team?

Discover our options for customised and in-company programmes tailor-made for your organisation.

Your expert faculty

During the Sustainable Finance Programme you will learn from Prof. Dirk Schoenmaker, Dr Willem Schramade and Dr Karen Maas. Occasionally we may substitute other faculty members according to the content of the programme and their availability.

Prof. Dirk Schoenmaker

Dirk Schoenmaker is a professor of banking and finance at RSM, and a fellow at the Brussels-based think-tank Bruegel. He promotes new, integrated thinking of all players in the financial system, including central banks, supervisors, asset managers, analysts, lenders and auditors. He wrote A framework for positive finance, and co-wrote the first textbook on sustainable finance Principles of sustainable finance. His research and teaching aim to incorporate sustainability into mainstream finance. His research topics include sustainable finance, central banking, financial supervision and stability, and European banking. Dirk obtained his PhD in economics from London School of Economics. 

Dr Willem Schramade

Dr Willem Schramade is a guest researcher and teacher of sustainable finance courses at RSM, and is founder of The Sustainable Finance Factory consultancy. He specialises in integrating sustainability and societal impact into finance, valuation and investments by helping financial professionals to think further than the short term, and gives them the tools to integrate sustainability into their financial analyses. He also built the Global Equity Impact Opportunities fund at NN Investment Partners which generated financial and societal returns. He was an equity analyst at Robeco, and has held positions at GE and PwC. He is a co-author of Principles of Sustainable Finance with Prof. Dirk Schoenmaker. 

Prof. Karen Maas

Karen Maas is professor of accounting and sustainability in the department of finance and accounting at the Open University, which is based in the UK. Karen is also academic director of Impact Centre Erasmus, a research institute in Rotterdam that focuses on impact strategy and management. Her focuses are sustainability, measuring performance and impact investing. Karen is also responsible for the executive Corporate Social Responsibility programme at the Erasmus School of Accounting and Assurance. She is a member of the Sustainable Finance Lab and the Sustainable Pension Investment Lab. Her work has been published in academic journals and books, on radio and in newspapers. 

More information

Programme dates

16 - 18 April 2024

11 - 13 December 2024

Programme fee

€ 3,600 (excl. 21% VAT) including course materials, lunches, and snacks. This fee does not include hotel accommodation.

 

25% discount for alumni from Erasmus University Rotterdam and RSM, and for (corporate) partners of the Erasmus Platform for Sustainable Value Creation. View the platform's current list of (corporate) partners to see if you are eligible for the 25% discount.

A programme for your entire team

All of our short courses can also be delivered as personalised in-company training to groups of employees from the same organisation. This enables us to develop a comprehensive programme that focuses on your organisation’s own unique situation and issues. 

Frequently asked questions

Rotterdam School of Management, Erasmus University (RSM) offers a dynamic learning environment for professionals looking for new skills and knowledge in business and management education. 

  • RSM is consistently ranked among Europe’s top business schools.
  • World-class professors and a globally oriented faculty deliver business leaders with an innovative mindset.
  • A prestigious Triple Crown accreditation puts RSM among the top 1% of business schools worldwide.
  • With our no-nonsense approach, RSM's goal is to give you the tools to put your new skills and knowledge directly into practice, for real impact.
  • It’s about you: during your programme you can discuss your specific business challenges and receive personal coaching.
  • You will meet a new network of peers in an RSM programme: extend your network, share experiences and become inspired by your fellow participants.

This programme takes place in Bayle building on the Woudestein Campus of Erasmus University Rotterdam, just 15 minutes by public transport from Rotterdam city centre. Our modern and lively campus has innovative study facilities, sustainable design, and calming green spaces.

Most programmes start at 09:00. Finishing times are different for each programme. There’s also an approximate schedule in each programme’s brochure and on its webpages. When you register for a programme you will be given access to Canvas, our online learning system, and the full schedule is in Canvas. Your programme manager will hand out a detailed schedule on the first day of your programme.

Class sizes are usually between 12 to 24 people, but it does depend on the programme. We aim for a balance between allowing capacity to guarantee individual attention, and achieving a good group dynamic and networking opportunities.

Yes. Alumni from RSM and Erasmus University Rotterdam receive a 25 per cent discount. RSM alumni are those who have completed either a Bachelor of Science, Master of Science, PhD or at least one executive education programme of more than 40 hours duration. Participants of open programmes of less than 40 hours do not receive a discount. Companies sponsoring several participants may also be offered a special price.

These programmes are excluded from this alumni discount:

  • Lean Six Sigma Black Belt Excellence Programme
  • Leadership Challenges with Data Analytics
  • Urban Digital Innovation Executive Leadership for a Green Deal
  • Executive Master in Customs and Supply Chain Compliance
  • Business Valuation
  • Port Executive Leadership Circle
  • Corporate Communication programmes
  • Erasmus Centre for Entrepreneurship programmes
  • RSM Customised Programmes
  • Programmes offered outside RSM Executive Education

Programme fees include tuition, programme materials, plus lunch and refreshments throughout the programme. Hotel accommodation is not included, unless mentioned otherwise in the programme information.

If you require hotel accommodation, we recommend the Novotel Rotterdam Brainpark Hotel and the Bilderberg Park Hotel. Both hotels are located in Rotterdam, accessible to the university, and participants can benefit from special rates.

Please note that due to high demand, we advise you to book your hotel stay for any program as early as possible with a flexible rate.

Our general terms and conditions apply when you register for an open programme. Please review them to learn more about our policies for cancellation, deferral and substitution.

If you have more general questions, we recommend you explore our more in-depth FAQs page. If you are looking for personal advice, then please contact one of our advisors using the contact form below.

Manjeet Kaur

Programme advisor

It's my priority to help you identify how you can meet your professional objectives, so reach out and let's make a plan for your personal development.